Sheffield-based organisation Sheffield Futures brings back national programme for young people facing barriers to employment

Local youth organisation Sheffield Futures is delighted to announce that for the second year running, it will be working in partnership with UK Youth to deliver the Summer Jobs Programme 2026.

The Programme – which offers young people, aged 16-20 who are at risk of violence, a six-week paid work placement – is now open for young people referrals. This summer, over 35 young people in South Yorkshire will participate.

The Summer Jobs Programme aims to improve young people's wellbeing and mental health while supporting them with employability skills and self-confidence. Each young person is also supported by a dedicated youth worker as part of their placement.

Last year, local employers National Videogame Museum, Riverlution, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Community Programme and more offered placements to 19 local young people with many of the young people going on to find employment or enrol in further education due to the skills that they learned through the programme.

Sheffield Futures and UK Youth, the national youth work charity which runs The Summer Jobs Programme, are now calling on local employers to offer work placements, to give local young people the opportunity to take a positive step towards their future careers.

Young people may self-refer to the Programme or be referred by youth organisations, service providers, or their parents or carers. The referrals form and further information is available here.

Employers who are interested in providing a work placement can find out more about the Programme here.

The Summer Jobs Programme draws inspiration from successful programmes in the US and has supported over 800 young participants since its inception in 2024.

About Sheffield Futures

Sheffield Futures is a local, independent charity supporting young people to feel well, have a voice, be active in their communities, and access the learning and employment opportunities that are right for them.

For 30 years, we’ve been here for Sheffield’s young people. From our drop in Wellbeing Café to intensive counselling; from our Social Prescribing walk-and-talks to personalised employment assistance, we empower each young person to build a positive future for themselves by providing youth-led, holistic and individualised support. All our work is geared towards:

• Improving health and wellbeing
• Developing social skills, life skills and independence
• Increasing community participation and belonging
• Meaningful progression in education, training and employment

We do this through:

• Door 43, our mental health and wellbeing service
• Careers education, information, advice and guidance
• Employment and employability support
• Youth leadership and youth voice opportunities

Star House, our city centre home, is a welcoming hub for young people to engage with each other, in our services, and with the other for-good organisations based here.